News Briefs From Across The State
Dogs found in “deplorable” condition
South Mississippi police say they have uncovered a dog fighting operation after responding to a complaint about barking dogs.
WLOX-TV said Biloxi police discovered 26 dogs in the woods behind two vacant mobile homes and it appeared to be a place where dogs were raised for fighting. Several of the animals had bite injuries consistent with dog fighting. One investigator describes the conditions as “deplorable.”
The animals were to be taken to the Harrison County farm, since the humane society of South Mississippi cannot accept animals because of a minor fire Monday. Most of the dogs are pit bulls and are attached to heavy chains.
Aberdeen school superintendent fired
Aberdeen School Board members have voted to fire their top educator. Superintendent Chester Leigh told WCBI TV the board dismissed him in executive session Monday night, but would not elaborate on the matter.
The board also fired Phonecia Witherspoon, the district’s chief financial officer.
Leigh has been superintendent of schools in Aberdeen since 2009.
Woman ties 11 puppies to fence; 10 euthanized
A 52-year-old woman has been found guilty of animal cruelty and ordered to pay $1,100 to the animal shelter where she tied 11 puppies to the fence after hours.
WDAM-TV reported that a Hattiesburg Municipal Court judge gave Patsy Payton of Bay Springs six months to pay the Southern Pines Animal Shelter, and ordered her to have all her current pets spayed or neutered.
She also got 11 months in jail, one per count. But Police Lt. Eric Proulx said the jail time was suspended.
WDAM says Payton allegedly tied the pups to the shelter’s fence with baling wire and zip ties. It says one died trying to free itself, and the other 10 were so seriously injured they had to be euthanized.
Overtime costs concern Jackson council
Jackson City Council members have expressed concern about the city’s $6 million overtime tab from fiscal 2011.
The Clarion-Ledger reported the city’s overtime costs went up 28 percent from 2010, when the tab was $4.7 million. As many as 50 employees averaged a 60-hour work week.
Councilman Charles Tillman kick-started the discussion Tuesday by requesting information on employee overtime before he voted on a payroll item.
Mayor Harvey Johnson Jr. has said he’s concerned with the high total and that he formed a committee in August to study the issue. But on Tuesday, he came to the defense of city employees, noting that in many cases, they volunteered for additional work to help cover for vacant positions.
Date set for Keenum’s sentence
Once prominent attorney Thomas D. Keenum Sr. will be sentenced Dec. 30 for federal bank fraud.
The Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal reported the 71-year-old Keenum pleaded guilty in August 2010 to a scheme to defraud BancorpSouth of Booneville through a $135,447 loan.
He faces up to 30 years in prison and $1 million in fines.
Keenum’s sentencing was delayed more than two years by a personal bankruptcy filing and difficulties in determining the total amount of the fraud, which has a bearing on guidelines presented to the judge.
U.S. District Judge W. Allen Pepper Jr. will sentence him in Greenville.
Moss Point school head stays on the job until June
Greg Ladner will come out of retirement to continue in his role as Moss Point superintendent at least through the end of the school term which ends June 30, 2012.
The Mississippi Press reported board members voted unanimously Wednesday to retain him for the post.
The board did not provide any details on the terms of Ladner’s contract, such as salary.
Ladner, a retired superintendent from Pearl Public School District, was tapped to step in as interim superintendent when Kim Staley’s contract expired on June 30.
He agreed at that time to take the Moss Point job for up to six months, the maximum amount of time he can work in a year without coming out of retirement.
His six-month contract was set to expire Dec. 19.
Gang member gets 9 years for making meth
Prosecutors said a member of the Simon City Royals street gang has been sentenced to nine years and four months in prison for conspiring to manufacture meth.
U.S. Attorney John Dowdy said that U.S. District Judge Walter Gex III sentenced Steven Mitchel Henthorn on Tuesday, and ordered the federal prison term be served after Henthorn finishes a state prison sentence for distributing meth in Marshall County.
Court documents show Henthorn blamed his legal problems on a meth addiction during his sentencing hearing.
The 31-year-old Henthorn pleaded guilty to the federal charge in October. State prison records show he is due to complete his state prison term Sept. 12, 2012.
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